Found in Collection From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm

Spring 2019 2. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm

Table of Contents

Page 3 A Note From the Archivist

Pages 4 A look back at the Dedication of the Rochester Hills Museum Page 4

Page 5 - 6 Matilda & Sarah

Page 7 Preservation Update

Pages 8-9 A trip to see the Queen Pages 5-6 Page 10 Behind the Scenes in the Archives

Page 11 Elections of 1860 Page 7

Found in Collection is a phrase used in the Museum field to describe undocumented objects found within a Museum’s collections whose donor, history, and significance are unknown. These items pose the exciting (and sometimes frustrating) challenge of Pages 8-9 figuring out where they came from.

Page 10 From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm 3.

Hoosen Farmhouse. Last but most certainly not least, we

A Note from the Archivist have had the pleasure of welcoming many new volunteers When I look back on and interns into the archives. These “neighbors” bring a this past year here at the new vitality to the Museum’s archives and collections. They Rochester Hills Museum at help us discover new things about our local history, make Van Hoosen Farm, the words our collections available online, and preserve everything of Sarah Van Hoosen Jones for this and the next generation. If anything, this newsletter come to mind. In describing is one of the ways to honor them and give them a chance her life on Van Hoosen to share the incredible things they do behind the scenes. Farm, she begins with “life I truly hope you enjoy reading about what we have all was very full” and continues been up to this past year. As always, my door (or email) is with “our life in a tiny village open for any questions, research requests and local history yielded the dropping in of artifacts you might have. neighbors quite frequently.” This describes exactly how I Sincerely, feel about this last year in the Museum’s archives and collections. With new exhibits on Samantha Lawrence the way, we have had our heads buried in the collections conducting research, checking facts, and locating Samantha Lawrence images and artifacts. We have also had the excitement [email protected] of completing several preservation projects in the Van 248.841.2673 4. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm A Look Back at the Dedication of the Rochester Hills Museum Digitized and Compiled by Jordan Tolmie

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm Avon Township (now Rochester Hills) for use as a was not always a museum. For five generations, local history museum. the Taylor and Van Hoosen Family lived in the Van Hoosen Farmhouse and owned most of the The Museum’s dedication came a couple years later land around Stoney Creek Village. In 1972, the last on a spring day in 1981. A group gathered in front of member of the Taylor-Van Hoosen family, Sarah the Farmhouse to celebrate the Museum’s opening Van Hoosen Jones, passed away that implemented and hear remarks from Avon Township Mayor Earl her final wish of giving the Van Hoosen Farmhouse, Borden, Congressman William S. Broomfield, and 350 acres, and several lots in Stoney Creek Village to Director of History Division Martha Bigelow. Michigan State University. Determined to preserve Here is a look back at one of the most significant days the legacy of the Taylor and Van Hoosen families, the in the 40-year history of the Rochester Hills Museum community rallied to save the Van Hoosen Farmhouse at Van Hoosen Farm! and in 1979, Michigan State gifted the Farmhouse to

Mayor Earl Borden speaking at Audience watch the presenters the event Dr. Martha Bigelow speaking at the podium

A crowd gathering in front of the A band of ‘BanjoPlayers’ farm house entertaining the crowd

Dairy Barn from across the way

Jordan Tolmie is a recent graduate from Central Michigan University earning a bachelor's degree in Public History with a minor in Museum Studies. She has always had a passion for public history and archives. Over the last three years, she has volunteered William Broomfield and Alice Serrel at several museums including the Rochester Hills stand next to Dedication Plaque Museum, , and Troy Historic Village. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm 5.

Educating the Next Generation: The Intersecting Lives of Matilda Wilson and Sarah Van Hoosen Jones By: Anthony DeMaggio and get away from . This is where Matilda and Sarah Van Hoosen Jones, Alfred Wilson relocated with their family, to build the two notable, philanthropic astounding Meadow Brook Hall, an 88,000 square foot women of Oakland County, home constructed between 1926-1929. It was built to accomplished incredible reflect the Tudor Revival architecture that Matilda fell feats in their lifetimes. in love with while visiting England, and contain over Their accomplishments 100 rooms. Anna Margaret Dodge, the youngest child included contributing to that was born from Matilda and John Dodge’s marriage, the field of animal husbandry passed away from complications of the measles in 1924 and genetics, making higher at a very young age, never occupying Meadow Brook education more accessible to the Greater Detroit area, Hall. Frances and Daniel Dodge would live in the home and ensuring that women were confident, empowered, with their own suite, including a guest bedroom, guest and heard. As a Museum Assistant at the Wilson’s bathroom, their own personal bathroom (Daniel having former home, Meadow Brook Hall for many years, gold-plated shower heads), and a secret play area for learning the story of Sarah Van Hoosen Jones and each child above their bedrooms. the Van Hoosen Farm was exciting. In this crossover of rich history on two powerful women of Oakland Matilda Wilson created a comfortable life for her family in County, I seek to find the similarities and mutual Rochester, Michigan, and was a very philanthropic woman community involvements between Sarah Van Hoosen in the greater Detroit area. A commitment that she was Jones and Matilda Dodge Wilson. particularly passionate about was supplying education to young adults. In 1957, Matilda and Alfred Wilson donated Matilda their estate and a sum of two million dollars to start the Matilda Rausch Dodge Wilson, born in Walkerton, educational institution originally named Michigan State Ontario in 1883 to German immigrants, could not University - Oakland, now known as . have known throughout her childhood and teenage years that she would eventually become one of the Around the same time, another woman just 14 miles away richest women in the . Before working in Stoney Creek Village was also expressing a passion and for ultimate auto-tycoon John Dodge in 1902, Rausch commitment to the education of young adults. attended and graduated from Gorsline Business College in Detroit, Michigan, making her qualified for Sarah the position she held at the Dodge Motor Company. Sarah Van Hoosen Jones was born in 1892 to Alice Eventually falling in love, Dodge and Rausch married Van Hoosen and Joseph Jones on her grandparents five years later in 1907. Matilda and John Dodge farm in Stoney Creek Village, Michigan. Though she gave birth to three children; Frances, Daniel, and had a father, he died when she was young and Sarah Anna Margaret. When John and Horace Dodge, the was raised by her mother, Alice, and her aunt, Bertha co-founders of Dodge Motor Company, attended Van Hoosen. During Sarah’s childhood, starting at the New York Auto Show, they both fell ill with the age 8, she suffered from a series of medical problems. Spanish influenza and died the same year in 1920. During this time, her distraught mother attempted Matilda inherited John’s share of the Dodge Brothers to keep Sarah from contact with other people and Motor Company, becoming one of the wealthiest moved the small child each time neighbors became women in the country. too friendly. While her Aunt Bertha wrote to her as much as she could while running a busy medical With her new found fortune, she moved to the practice at the same time in Chicago, Sarah, for countryside with her family and new husband, the most part, had a very lonely childhood. The Alfred Wilson, a lumber baron, who she met through brightest times of her youth were spent in Oakland the Presbyterian Church in Detroit, Michigan. County, Michigan at Van Hoosen Farm. There, she The property located in Rochester, Michigan, was found genuine happiness working with animals, purchased by John Dodge before his death as a and made it her ultimate goal to run the farm one 6. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm day. When she eventually earned her bachelor’s A large part of their shared interests revolved around degree in foreign languages from the University of Michigan State University - Oakland (MSU-O). Chicago, her aunt Bertha and mother Alice decided Matilda and her husband, Alfred, founded the that she would continue her studies and enter medical University in 1957, by donating their estate and two school. Sarah’s first thought was pondering how long million dollars. On November 7, 1956, Sarah donated she would have to run her own practice before she her estate to Michigan State University as a place could purchase a farm of her own. A discussion of the of learning for individuals interested in studying realities of 20th century farming followed, and it was agriculture. Sarah also served on the MSU-O advisory determined that Sarah would earn a graduate degree committee from 1957-1963. A quote from Sarah’s from an agricultural college. At the University of book Chronicle of Van Hoosen Centenary Farm Wisconsin, Sarah completed an M.S. degree in animal exposes her commitment and passion to education. husbandry, and then continued to be one of the first “As indicated, as a family, we had always been much women in the United States to earn a doctoral degree interested in education. I had - through necessity and in Animal Genetics from the University of Wisconsin. also desire - kept a close contact with Michigan State In 1921, Sarah was gifted the deed to the farm by her College. As I look back over my mother’s fears that I grandmother and namesake, Sarah Taylor Van Hoosen. would lack educational contacts by living on the farm, I smile to myself, for she, too, realized her fears were The Same Circles unnecessary as the years progressed.” Sarah and Matilda’s lives intersected quite closely. Inspiring the Next Generation In addition to being passionate about agriculture I am personally grateful for the contributions and education, they were often doing similar things that these women made to education, as a current around the same time. Matilda started construction undergraduate and future master’s student at on Meadow Brook Hall in 1926 with completion three Oakland University, and Archival Intern at the years later in 1929. During the same time period, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. I the Van Hoosen women began making renovations was able to find my passion for public history and to their family’s farmhouse to make a comfortable education because of the amazing feats these women life on the farm. Spearheaded by Sarah’s mother, accomplished in their lifetimes. In conclusion, Alice Van Hoosen Jones, the farmhouse renovations there was no lack of overcoming adversity for these included moving the house closer to Stoney Creek, women in the mid-twentieth century, especially when adding three new wings, and furnishing the house attempting to establish an educational institution, with items from their international travels. and contribute to the educational resources available to those who were interested in agriculture Matilda attended in Sarah’s honor a Zonta Dinner . held on November 13, 1958. The admission for this Anthony DeMaggio graduated from Oakland University in April event was $4.75, and was held in Bloomfield Hills, 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in history and is an aspiring Michigan. Matilda and Alfred Wilson’s signatures museum professional. Finding a passion for museum work at can be found in the guest book that Sarah kept for Meadow Brook Hall as a Museum Assistant during his freshman this event. This example of these women’s lives year of undergraduate studies, DeMaggio became fascinated intersecting shows that they supported each other in with preserving the past and making it available and viewable to the public. He is thankful for Madelyn Rzadkowolski, the Director multiple ways. Photographs found in the collections of Curatorial Services at Meadow Brook Hall, for helping him find at the Rochester Hills Museum suggest that Sarah this passion. He completed his internship as an Archival Intern at also likely attended the Open House of “Meadow Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm in April 2019, and Brook Farms II” in Howell, Michigan, where Matilda this article is the product of months of research and guidance under the direction of Samantha Lawrence, the Archivist at the and Alfred Wilson transferred most of their farm Rochester Hills Museum. operation after donating their estate to Michigan State University in 1957. Today, Meadow Brook Hall is a National Historic Landmark, offering tours, community programs, The Gift of Education and special events. To learn more, please visit “The mutual interests and parallel paths of two local meadowbrookhall.org. women today resulted in an educational milestone for Oakland County.” Pontiac Press, September 21, 1959 From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm 7.

Preservation Update Roller Shades

Caring for a 179-year-old home like the Van Hoosen One thing the Van Hoosen Farmhouse does not Farmhouse takes a village. From daily maintenance lack is natural light! While this is a great feature checks to humidity and temperature monitoring on the real estate market, it can be disastrous for to pest control, the Rochester Hills Museum relies the preservation of interior furnishings. With 50+ on our facilities team as well as the entire museum windows in the Farmhouse, the original furnishings staff to keep the Farmhouse in excellent condition. belonging to the Van Hoosen family are subject to light Ultimately, we strive to preserve this important damage on a daily basis. Quilts in Sarah Van Hoosen piece of local history with the same level of care as Jones’ bedroom as well as the Sleeping Porch have the Taylor and Van Hoosen families. Every year, significantly faded as a result of sun exposure. In an we aim to take on a project to restore an area of the effort to prevent future light damage and replicate the Farmhouse back to what it was when the last family original roller shades, the Museum contracted Sheer member lived there in 1972. With the support of this Shop to install new roller shades in over 40 windows of incredible community, we have accomplished two of the Farmhouse. Grant funding from the International these projects since last May! Questers organization, Winkler Mill Questers Chapter and Sarah Van Hoosen Jones Chapter as well as Wallpaper in Bertha’s Bedroom donations from the Museum’s Collections Fund made this project possible.

The reprinting of original wallpaper, plaster and roof repair, painting, and wallpaper installation in Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen’s bedroom in the Van Hoosen Farmhouse was completed in the spring of 2018. Grant funding from the Rochester Junior Women’s Club made this project possible. The Museum contracted with Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers to reproduce the original wallpaper design and Eco Painting completed the work. According to Van Hoosen Farm Secretary Alice Serrell, who stayed in Dr. Bertha’s bedroom after she passed away in 1952, she and Dr. Sarah Van Hoosen Jones purchased the original wallpaper at Hudson’s Department Store in 1952.

Thank you to Rochester Junior Women’s Club for making this project possible! 8. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm A Trip to See the Queen By: Ashley Rotarius By 1953, Sarah Van Hoosen Jones was entering a new phase of life. She had recently retired from her Meals aboard the farming career and was still coping with the losses Queen Mary were quite of both her mother, Alice Van Hoosen Jones and opulent. One of the her Aunt, Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen. In Sarah’s book, breakfast menus that Chronicle of Van Hoosen Centenary Farm, she Alice saved included described how life without Alice and Bertha seemed choices of cold and hot out of the question, but as the days passed, she found cereals, fried Boston herself adjusting to her loss, “for there was still much sole with lemon, eggs any way you wanted them, to live for.” This new chapter of Sarah’s life began broiled breakfast bacon, minced chicken with green with plans to take a six-week trip to Europe with her peppers, cold roast beef, rolled ox tongue, buckwheat close friend and Van Hoosen Farm Secretary Alice and griddle cakes with maple or golden syrup, fruit Serrell in the summer of 1953. compotes and a variety of breads with marmalade. To drink, there was tea, coffee, Nescafe, milk, Horlicks The archives of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Malted Milk, Ovaltine and instant Postum. Hoosen Farm have many of Alice Serrell’s personal papers and keepsakes. Alice kept photos, postcards, Luncheon started with hors travel brochures, newspaper clippings, menus and d'oeuvres of sardines, stuffed receipts. The items in the Alice Serrell Collection help olives and tomatoes vinaigrette as us understand her life, and her time with Sarah as well as choice of soup, salad, and well. Through her collection, we even get a closer look coleslaw. The main courses were at their 1953 trip to see the queen. roast loin and leg of pork with applesauce. Side dishes included brussels sprouts, Alice’s AAA travel turnips, choice of potato- mashed, hashed or baked, card shows they took fried Long Island scallops with tartare sauce and cold the European Tour salmon with cucumber and mayonnaise. To drink, 1-C, which left from there was tea, coffee and wine. For dessert, there was New York on April ice-cream, baked custard, rhubarb pie and a compote 29th. Their stops of pears and plums with whipped cream. included France, Italy, Switzerland, Alice also saved her menu from their farewell dinner, Amsterdam, Scotland and England, with planned and this was likely because there was a section for arrival in London in time to witness the procession of autographs. Inside are signatures from some of the Queen Elizabeth II on June 3rd. people they made friends with on the ship. One says, “hope you don’t run into any earthquakes, have Alice and Sarah sailed on board Cunard Line’s RMS a grand trip,” likely referring to thr Great Japan Queen Mary, one of the premiere ocean liners of the Earthquake of 1923 that the Van Hoosen women time. On board, passengers could take part in many experienceed on their travels. Another signature was activities, such as exercising in the gymnasium, from a man named Ron King, who was their waiter swimming in the indoor pool, or relaxing up on deck. that evening! The meal included multiple courses. In one of their photos, There was turtle soup, ravioli, lentil pie, baked clove Sarah and Alice can be York ham with madeira sauce, roast stuffed Vermont seen relaxing in rented turkey with cranberry sauce, filet mignon with deck chairs. Evening bearnaise sauce, as well as a cold buffet of roast beef, events included catching sirloin and lamb with mint sauce. Dessert included one of the movies playing, listening to the string pudding, ice-cream, fresh fruit and coupe jacques. orchestra, and dancing. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm 9.

Once they arrived in The last part of their trip was Europe, Alice and Sarah spent in London and Scotland. wasted no time seeing There they visited Cambridge, the sights. In a little Westminster Abbey, Anne pharmacy memo book Hathaway’s Cottage and they with 1953 written at the even attended a cattle show. In top, Alice kept track of the her book, Sarah mentions this photos they took. Some part of their trip. “We toured the of the places they visited were the Notre-Dame, Arc great little Isle in a Morris Minor car, driving it de Triomphe, Versailles, Monte Carlo, The Vatican, ourselves, which was great fun.” The photos in Alice’s Spanish Steps, The Colosseum, Michelangelo’s statue collection show that they did indeed drive one, and of David, Tivoli Gardens, and Mt. Pilatus. Alice and even stopped in the middle of a quiet country road to likely Sarah as well, even attended a special luncheon have a picnic lunch. However, the main reason they in Paris at the Eiffel Tower courtesy of AAA. were in London was to witness the procession of Queen Elizabeth II. Alice, Sarah and thousands of others Another notable restaurant they ate at was called The watched as the queen rode through the streets after she Five Flies in Amsterdam. This establishment was had been crowned. Postcards, photos, and a coronation known for their chicken casserole, celebrity visitors program remain in the collections, a reminder of that and 17th century rustic interior and exterior. Alice momentous occasion. saved menus, a napkin and a souvenir poster from their visit here. The poster is special because it looks Though she had lost the two people she loved the as though the owner of the restaurant, Nicolaas most, Sarah did have much to live for. She spent the Kroese may have signed it for them. rest of her days in active retirement and traveled the world with her good friend Alice. While in Amsterdam Alice and Sarah were given a sheet of paper that explained Amsterdam’s Ashley graduated from Oakland University in 2018 population, landscape, architecture, history, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and will be starting industries and monetary system. On the back of the Museum Studies MA program through the this sheet of paper, at the bottom is a handwritten University of Leicester, UK in the fall. She wants to list of items. This list included things such postage, help museums educate, preserve and inspire, so newspaper, tea, doll, candy, and train fare. These that the history of the past can be shared with future were likely things that Alice and Sarah purchased or generations. She lives in Rochester Hills with her needed to keep track of while in Holland. partner, Jason and their dog, Evee.

10. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm

Behind the Scenes in the Archives Over the past four months, Ashley Servis Hufford, an archival intern from Wayne State University, has digitized and uploaded over three hundred photographs to the Oakland County Historical Resources (OCHR) website. While scanning and uploading photo after photo can seem monotonous, it requires focus, attention to detail, and organization. A close up view of a chipmunk eating a peanut on a picnic table in Thelma Spencer Park in Rochester Hills. These photos are just a small selection of what you can find on OCHR, all thanks to Ashley!

A daytime view of the lake and plant growth at A group of Brooklands firefighters playing a game of Thelma Spencer Park in Rochester Hills. water ball with two hoses. Water ball is a game used to help firefighters learn how to handle equipment such as hoses, nozzles, and other tools.

A view of the Rochester Hills sign on Walton A view of a sign reading "Thelma G. Spencer Park, Boulevard. Avon Charter Township" at Thelma Spencer Park in Rochester Hills.

Ashley Servis Hufford is a graduate student at Wayne State University studying Library & Information Science and Archival Administration. She is passionate about working with digital materials, metadata management, and archival digitization.

People riding horses through snow on a winter day at Thelma Spencer Park in Rochester Hills. From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm 11.

Election of 1860

When Abraham Lincoln was elected on November 6, 1860, what was Rochester’s reaction? The election of 1860 was one of the most pivotal in United States History. Without newspapers or letters from that time, it is impossible to know what the local residents were feeling leading up to the Civil War. The Rochester Hills Museum does, however, have one link to this election in our collections. Earlier this year, a handwritten copy of the names appearing on the 1860 Registry of Electors for Avon Township was donated to the Museum. It was found tucked in the pages of a book. This copy with its cursive writing and yellowed pages looks exactly like the type of thing you would find in the archives. Although this document is just a list of names, it is an exciting piece of history for an Archivist. A single archival document can hold hundreds of stories, answer our lingering questions, and create new mysteries. This handwritten list is one of those documents.

George Lambertson

Uncle George, as he was often called, came to Rochester in 1837 with his family and took up residence on Main Street. At his death in 1883, the Rochester ERA newspaper reported: “We will venture to say that he did not have an enemy in the world, for he was respectful and kind to all, always attending to his own concerns.”

John V. and Hiram Lambertson

Sons of George Lambertson, John and Hiram owned businesses in downtown Rochester. In 1847, John built the Lambertson House at the southwest corner of Main and what is now University. The Lambertson House, later known as the Hotel St. James, was one of two hotels in Rochester at the time. Together, John and Hiram operated a general store at the corner of Main and Fourth. Continued on Page 12 From the Archives and Collections of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm Continued From Page 11 Joshua Van Hoosen In 1854, Sarah Taylor married her childhood sweetheart Joshua Van Hoosen upon his return from gold prospecting in California. The success of his prospecting venture enabled him to purchase her family’s ancestral home and the Taylor farm. Joshua and Sarah raised two daughters, Alice and Bertha. A progressive individual, Joshua favored higher education for women and men alike. His daughters were among the first women to graduate from the University of Michigan in the late 1800's. Joshua was progressive in his farming too. In 1865, he developed a plumbing system for the farm, which harnessed the spring waters from the hillside through pipes, made from tamarack logs. Joshua was able to bring water to the kitchen porch, a water trough at the roadside, and to a fountain in the front yard. Joshua’s neighbors chided his creation and nicknamed the project, “Josh’s Folly,” but in the end his plumbing system What’s Missing? was a success. Among these 470 names, you will not find any Native Americans, people of color, or women. These groups Another important fact to note is that Joshua was did not yet have the right to vote. How many more born in Canada and he was exempt from serving names would be on this list if every group had the in the Civil War because he retained his Canadian right to vote in 1860? citizenship. Why was he included on this list? 1870 – Non-white men and freed slaves are guaranteed the right to vote 1920 – Women are guaranteed the right to vote 1924 – All Native Americans are granted citizenship and the right to vote

To enhance understanding of the past through interpreting, preserving and collecting the history of the greater Rochester area for present and future generations.

Museum Admission Hours Contact Information Adults $5.00 Fridays and Saturdays Rochester Hills Museum Senior Citizens $3.00 (60 and over) 12:00-3:00pm and at Van Hoosen Farm Students $3.00 (Grades K-12) by appointment 1005 Van Hoosen Road Please check our website Rochester Hills, MI 48306 for details. Phone: 248.656.4663 Members Are Free! rochesterhills.org/museum Email: [email protected]